Neighborhood Outdoor Adventures - Parents and Block Leaders

Del Benson, Professor and Wildlife Specialist
1. Promote awareness and interest and identify key parents and other leaders in the neighborhood to participate as block leaders who move the activities forward. Where to find leaders:
*Home owners association meetings and communications
*Alumni of colleges and universities with natural resources programs
*Professionals with local state and national natural resources agencies and their volunteers
*4-H and Scouting parents and leaders
*After school assemblies
*Contacts through school teachers
*Civic club members in the community such as Rotary or Lions
*Outdoor groups and clubs such as fishing, birding, hunting, and wildlife and nature groups
*Contact outdoor writers to spread the news and to show the successes
*Ideas and procedures promoted in various written and electronic media
2. Block leaders spread the opportunities and procedures to other parents and youth in their immediate neighborhood and help to select leaders on other blocks.
*Make door-to-door contacts
*Hang prompts on doors or leave a fact sheet to prompt actions
3. Suggest 6 activities to start the process and hand out the 40 Neighborhood Outdoor Adventure Activities
*Go outside every chance you get and look, smell, touch, and enjoy
*Plant indoor or outdoor plants and care for them as thy grow, flower or provide a food to harvest
*Turn off appliances and water when not in use
*Itemize, draw and describe “nature” in the yard or on neighborhood walks
*Put up and maintain bird feeders and nest boxes then watch the visitors
*Get guides to birds, insects, mammals, plants, etc. and discover
4. Suggest 1 follow up activity
*Hike or bike with friends to the local pond, park, nature area, or vacant lot
*Parents picnic to discuss ideas
*Join in with local agencies and organizations that offer nature study
*Train on a technique
*Create a neighborhood club to meet regularly as parents and youth
*Join 4-H by contacting county government and the Extension organization
*Always have participants prepared for: what’s next - next activity or new adventure
5. Leave parents and youth with aids to take further actions
*Inform them about LandHelp.info and the Section called “Next Child in the Woods” where they can get more ideas and learn what others are doing
*Help with projects for 4-H, Scouts, and community service
*Leave your contact information so they can follow up with you